How To Reheat Nacho Cheese – I Test 4 Methods [Pics]

This article was updated on 27/07/2023 for clarity and to incorporate a new method we tested.

That creamy texture. That silky, golden, cheddary flavor. Nacho cheese is a guilty pleasure of mine. (Can you tell?). But by reheating it, you run the risk of it splitting or becoming too runny.

To stop this from happening to you, I tested out four different reheating methods to see which one worked best.

In a rush?

The best way to reheat nacho cheese is in a double boiler. Heat the sauce in a glass bowl resting on top of a pot of simmering water. If you’re in a rush, you can also use the microwave but go slowly to avoid a split sauce.

A note on my experiment

I believe there’s no such thing as too much nacho cheese. Unfortunately, this means I regularly end up making too much of it, as I did over the weekend. But you know what that means? Sunday night nachos (psst… I also have a guide on reheating nachos)!

On a mission to get my nacho cheese back to its smooth, saucy state, I experimented with three different reheating methods:

• A double boiler: Best method overall.
• The stove: Good results but need to monitor.
• The microwave: Convenient, but high risk for overheating.
• A water bath: Bonus method!

Reheating nacho cheese in a double boiler

Time: 4-5 minutes
Rating: 9/10

1. Set your stove to medium heat and place approximately 2 inches of water into a pot.
2. Rest a durable glass bowl on the edges of the pot, over the water, but not touching it.
3. Place your leftover nacho cheese in the bowl.
4. While the water simmers, stir your sauce continuously.
5. Once warm and runny, remove your nacho cheese from the stove and serve.

This method is effective because it uses indirect heat to warm your nacho cheese. The bowl serves as a buffer between the warm water and the sauce itself. However, you need to make sure the water doesn’t start to boil, as this will overheat your sauce.

If you notice your sauce is becoming runny or wanting to curdle, remove it from the heat immediately and let it cool down.

Results: This was the best method for reheating nacho cheese (but also the most effort). It’s a safe and easy-to-control way to warm it up slowly. My nacho cheese tasted freshly-made, and had all of its creamy flavor and texture. Yum!

Reheating nacho cheese on the stove

Time: 2-3 minutes
Rating: 8/10

1. Set your stove to a low heat setting.
2. Place your leftover nacho cheese in a heavy-bottomed pan and place it on the stove.
3. Stir the sauce continuously as it heats.
4. Once warmed through, remove from the heat, and serve immediately.

Choose a pan with a relatively heavy bottom that is a good size for the quantity of sauce you’re trying to heat. A pan that’s too big will make it hard to stir your nacho cheese. Too small, and it might heat unevenly.

If you suspect the pan is getting too hot, lift it from the heat now and then. Slowly does it!

Results: I was impressed with the results of this method, mostly because of how well it restored the delicious flavor of my nacho cheese. However, I was a bit worried at one stage the sauce was splitting.

Reheating nacho cheese in the microwave

Time: 30 seconds
Rating: 8/10

1. Place your nacho cheese in a microwave-safe bowl and cover the bowl with plastic wrap and pierce it with a few small holes.
2. Warm your sauce in 10-second intervals.
3. During each break, stir your nacho cheese thoroughly.
4. Once pourable and warmed through, remove it from the microwave and serve.

Ten seconds might seem short, but short timeframes are the best way to prevent your sauce from breaking.

If your cheese sauce starts to curdle, look greasy, or become runny, you’ve overheated it. Try stirring in a splash of cream or milk to bring it back together.

Results: In terms of convenience, you can’t beat the microwave. However, it also has the highest chance of breaking your sauce, so go slow and keep stirring. That said, I couldn’t fault the taste or texture of my microwaved nacho cheese.

How to store nacho cheese

To store nacho cheese, allow it to cool to room temperature then transfer it into an airtight container. Before sealing the lid, place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the sauce to prevent a skin forming. Nacho cheese will last up to 4 days in the fridge.

Nacho cheese will completely solidify in the fridge, but will melt again when you reheat it.

Can you freeze nacho cheese?

Yes you can freeze nacho cheese for up to 6 months. You can freeze the sauce in a heavy-duty freezer bag, or portion it out into ice cube trays if you want convenient portions. Once the cubes are fully frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag.

Tip: flatten the freezer bag and lay it down in the freezer to save on space.

The best way to thaw frozen nacho cheese is to place it in the fridge overnight and let it defrost naturally. If you’re in a hurry, you can speed up the process by running the bag (or the bottom of the ice tray) under lukewarm water.

Thawed cheese sauces may appear watery or greasy. Don’t worry – vigorous whisking goes a long way to bringing the sauce back together.

How to keep nacho cheese warm

There are a few ways to keep nacho cheese warm. You can serve it from a crockpot set to low heat or place it in a fondue pot with a burner underneath.

Another way to keep nacho cheese liquid is to place it in a heatproof bowl on top of a heating tray. Personally, I’m a big fan of candle sauce warmers. These convenient containers use a safe fuel and wick lighting system that keep sauces warm at a steady heat for up to six hours.

Read next: What To Serve With Nachos

How To Reheat Nacho Cheese [Tested Methods]

I’ve tried three different reheating methods to establish which one works best for restoring your nacho cheese sauce to its original glorious, gooey state.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Sauce

Cuisine American

Servings 1 person

Calories 306 kcal

Equipment

• Double boiler

Ingredients

  

• 1 portion nacho cheese
• 2 cups water for the double boiler

Instructions

 

• Set your stove to medium heat.
• Place approximately 2 inches of water into a pot.
• Rest a durable glass bowl on the edges of the pot, over the water, but not touching it.
• Place your leftover nacho cheese in the bowl.
• While the water simmers, stir your sauce continuously.
• Once warm and runny, remove your nacho cheese from the stove and serve.

Notes

This method is effective because it utilizes indirect heat to warm your nacho cheese. The bowl serves as a buffer between the warm water and the sauce itself.

However, you need to make sure the water doesn’t start to boil, as this will overheat your sauce. Barely a simmer is enough to heat the bowl and warm your sauce, and low heat is key.

Continuously stirring your nacho cheese will keep its consistency smooth while ensuring it warms through evenly.

If you notice signs that your sauce is becoming runny or wanting to curdle, remove it from the heat immediately, as it has become too hot.

 

Keyword nacho cheese, reheat nacho cheese